Greenwich, Connecticut…the land of hedge funders and conspicuous consumption.

I grew up in the area and my father’s business was in the toney town.

The wealth was always pervasive yet unspoken.

Now people carry billboards advertising their nouveau riche status.

It used to be a charming little hamlet. Now The Avenue is a minnie Madison Avenue.

Whatever, it’s still home.

The National

Recently, I picked up Queen E. for a Saturday night date, taking on the new Geoffrey Zakarian restaurant on Greenwich Avenue, The National.

The 85-seater is an elegant and charming American cafe serving seasonal ingredients and craft cocktails.

We started with martinis and Prosecco. The restaurant carried Chopin so it was a good beginning ($14).

Oysters

David and I shared oysters from Massachusetts. They were sweet and fresh ($15).

Organic Amish Chicken

My mother and I shared the wood-roasted Organic Amish Chicken with Bibb lettuce which was tender and flavorful. The portion was large and after we split the dish there was enough for another meal…Queen E. loves leftovers ($21).

Fresh Spaghetti

David ordered the fresh Spaghetti with jumbo lump crab, ramps and crispy shallots ($29). It was delectable.

Crispy Parmesan POtatoes

The Crispy Parmesan Crusted Potatoes were outstanding ($10).

My mom loves bread and they charge by the slice ($1.50). Bet the authentic Greenwichites will have something to say about that.